88 ABOUT ORCHIDS. 
another proof of Nature’s kindly regard for the 
interests of our science. A clear, strong, golden 
yellow is the colour that would have been wanting 
in our cool houses had not the Oncidium supplied 
it. Shades of lemon and buff are frequent among 
Odontoglossums, but, in a rough, general way of 
speaking, they have a white ground. Masdevallias 
give us scarlet and orange and purple ; Lycastes, 
green and dull yellow; Sophronitis, crimson ; 
Mesospinidium, rose, and so forth. Blue must not 
be looked for. Even counting the new Utricularia 
for an orchid, as most people do, there are, I think, 
but five species that will live among us at present, 
in all the prodigious family, showing this colour ; 
and every one of them is very “hot.” Thus 
it appears that the Oncidium fills a gap—and 
how gloriously! There is no such pure gold 
in the scheme of the universe as it displays 
under fifty shapes wondrously varied. Thus— 
Oncidium macranthum! one is continually tempted 
to exclaim, as one or other glory of the orchid 
world recurs to mind, that it is the supreme 
triumph of floral beauty. I have sinned thus, and 
I know it. Therefore, let the reader seek an 
opportunity to behold O. macranthum, and judge 
for himself. But it seems to me that Nature gives 
us a hint. As though proudly conscious what a 
